Fred Lebow and Grete Waitz Are NYRR Hall of Fame Inductees

NYRR honors running legends.

Monday, October 31, 2011, 12:00 am

They're the first members of the new Hall. And for all they achieved--Lebow guided the New York Road Runners and New York City

Marathon through a period of phenomenal and epochal growth, and Waitz won the city's marathon nine times--they both provided their most indelibly memorable images in 1992. That was when Lebow, in remission from brain cancer, elected to finally run the mammoth marathon he'd guided for so many years, and Waitz accompanied him every step of the way--for 5:32:34. The pair will be officially inducted and have their Hall of Fame banners raised at the ING New York City Marathon finish line in Central Park at the Marathon Opening Ceremony on Friday evening, November 4. The ceremony, also featuring the Parade of Nations, is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis."Today is just the first step in honoring all of the legendary figures who, through their triumph and contributions, have made NYRR and the Marathon what they are today," says Mary Wittenberg, who is now at the helm of both entities. "It is only proper that we begin by saluting these two towering legends of NYRR and our sport who are forever linked, most memorably at the 1992 race when Grete accompanied Fred on his emotional run through the city."Allan Steinfeld, Lebow's trusted second-in-command and later his successor, will represent Lebow and Waitz's husband, Jack, will appear on her behalf at the induction ceremony. "Grete was the New York City Marathon and the New York City Marathon was Grete," declares Jack Waitz, who plans to run the ING New York City Marathon this year. "From the first time Grete ran through the streets in the 1978 marathon, to what she called her tenth and final 'victory' running the Marathon with Fred Lebow in 1992, Grete embodied the race and the city." (photo of Grete Waitz courtesy of NYRR)More